Bracket assembly

Abstract

A bracket assembly includes a bracket adapted to mount on one side of a panel and a threaded fastener including a female component mounted in a shaped hole of the panel and a male fastener component extending through the bracket and engaged with a bore in the female fastener component.

1 . A bracket assembly for attachment to a panel having an opening with a larger first portion and a smaller second portion extending between a first side and a second side of the panel, said bracket assembly comprising: 
 a bracket having a hole extending therethrough;    a threaded fastener male component having a shank inserted through said hole, said shank having a male thread thereon;    a female component configured to partially enter the larger portion of the opening in the panel without passing completely therethrough and to be secured in the smaller portion of the opening, with a part of said female component on the first side of the panel and another part of the female component on the second side of the panel; and    a bore in said female component receiving said male component in threaded engagement with said male thread for drawing said bracket against the panel.    
   
   
       2 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , said threaded fastener having a self-tapping thread.  
   
   
       3 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , said female component having a first collar larger than the larger first portion of the opening in the panel, a second collar smaller than the larger first portion of the opening and a channel between said first and second collars.  
   
   
       4 . The bracket assembly of  claim 3 , said bracket having a side confronting the panel and defining a recessed nest in said side confronting the panel for receiving said first collar therein.  
   
   
       5 . The bracket assembly of  claim 3 , said male component having a head configured for engaging a tool to rotate said male component.  
   
   
       6 . The bracket assembly of  claim 5 , said head having an orifice for engaging a tool.  
   
   
       7 . The bracket assembly of  claim 5 , said bracket defining a cavity for receiving said head.  
   
   
       8 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , said bracket having an edge confronting the panel, said edge being concave surface for compression against the panel.  
   
   
       9 . The bracket assembly of  claim 1 , said female component having pins extending toward said bracket, and said bracket having tunnels receiving said pins telescopically.  
   
   
       10 . A bracket assembly, comprising: 
 a bracket having a shell and a core defining a hole therethrough;    a male threaded fastener extending through said hole and having a head larger than said hole; and    a female component having a bore engaging said male threaded fastener, said female component having a larger first collar nearest said bracket, a second collar smaller than said first collar and more distant from said bracket relative to said first collar, and a channel between said collars.    
   
   
       11 . The bracket assembly of  claim 10 , said bracket having a side confronting said first collar and defining a recessed nest therein for receiving said first collar.  
   
   
       12 . The bracket assembly of  claim 11 , said side of said bracket having an outer edge, and said edge being concave.  
   
   
       13 . The bracket assembly of  claim 12 , said female component having pins extending toward said bracket, and said bracket having tunnels receiving said pins telescopically.  
   
   
       14 . The bracket assembly of  claim 10 , said female component having pins extending toward said bracket, and said bracket having tunnels receiving said pins telescopically.  
   
   
       15 . The bracket assembly of  claim 10 , said bracket having a side confronting said first collar and an outer edge of said side being concave.  
   
   
       16 . The bracket assembly of  claim 10 , said bracket being configured for supporting a wiper arm on a motor vehicle.  
   
   
       17 . A windshield wiper bracket assembly mounted on a vehicle panel having an opening between a first side of the panel and a second side of the panel, said windshield wiper bracket assembly comprising: 
 the panel having a keyhole opening therethrough, said keyhole opening having a substantially circular larger portion and a rectangular portion extending from said substantially circular portion;    a female component having a bore and spaced collars, one of said collars being of a size and shape to pass through said substantially circular larger portion and the other of said collars being of a size and shape larger than said substantially circular larger portion, said collars being spaced from each other by a distance sufficient for receiving therebetween edges of the panel adjacent said rectangular portion of said keyhole opening;    a bracket configured for supporting a wiper arm, said bracket defining a hole and being configured for conforming to a side of the panel when tightened against the panel; and    a threaded fastener extending through said hole and having a threaded shaft for threaded engagement in said bore of said female component.    
   
   
       18 . The windshield wiper bracket assembly of  claim 17 , said bracket having a side confronting said other collar and defining a recessed nest therein for receiving said other collar.  
   
   
       19 . The windshield wiper bracket assembly of  claim 17 , said bracket having a side confronting said other collar and said side being concave.  
   
   
       20 . The windshield wiper bracket assembly of  claim 17 , said female component having pins extending toward said bracket, and said bracket having tunnels receiving said pins telescopically.  
   
   
       21 . The windshield wiper bracket assembly of  claim 17 , said threaded shaft having a thread-forming thread.